Electric mail box



July 2, 1935'. c. TORSTENSON ELECTRIC MAIL BOX Filed Feb. '7

Patented July 2, 1935 PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC MAIL BOX I Alvin C. Torstenson, New Orleans, La.

Application February 7, 1034, Serial No. 710,176

5 Claims.

The present invention relates to a mail box or .mailr'eceptacle and more particularly to a device of this character which when provided with a circuit closing screen is adapted to close an elec tric circuit upon the deposit of mail therein to actuate anindicating or signalling device.

One of the objects of the present invention is .to provide a mail box or receptacle of this char-- acter which when the mail is deposited therein will close an electric circuit to actuate a signalling device to indicate'that mail has been depcsited in thebox. Y

A still further important object of the invention is to provide a'circuit closing device in combination with the receptacle which will automatically close the electric circuit when a letter or letters'have been placed or deposited in the box and which will as in many instances is the case, if the same does not drop to the bottom of the box, willautomatically open the circuit closing device thereby preventing the circuit from remaining closed until the letter or the has been removed from the box.

A still further important attribute of the invention is to provide a circuit closing device of this character which may be installed on standard types of mail receptacles or boxes which is not only cheap to manufacture, but is simple in construction.

The present invention contemplates the provisionoi an electrical n1ake-and-break switch disposed adjacent the upper edge of the outer side of the box which upon the insertion of a letter is adapted to be contacted thereby to effect a closing of the contacts thereof and consequently the energizing of an electric circuit connected thereto. "The circuit closing device is also equipped with an automatic circuit opening device-which in the event of the sticking of a letter in the upper portion of the device, and consequently the maintaining of the electrical contacts in closed position will automatically open the same thereby preventing a continuous energize,- tion of the electric circuit whiie the letter is in this position. i

In the accompanyng drawing, forming a part of this application and in which corresponding parts are designated by like numerals throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a mail box partly in section equipped with the electrical circuit closing device,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating the manner in which the automatic'arm brings about an opening of the electricalcircuit when a letter does not fall to the bottom of the box and Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional View of Figure 1 taken on line 3-3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration there is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the reference numeral 4 generally designates a mail box which may be of any standard construction, and which embodies a base 6 of general rectangular configuration. having pivotally mounted thereon by means of the hinges 8, a receptacle door In. The front upper edge portion of the door is bent downwardly and inwardly as illustrated at [2 and is spaced ircin the outer edge of the support 6 defining a passage through which letters and other mail may pass into the interior of the box.

The box is provided with a pivotally mounted door l4. Adjacent the upper edge of the inner portion of the body In of the box, there is securely fastened by means of a bolt and nut IS an insulating blocl: l8 having supports and a pair of substantially V-shaped resilient contact arms 20 and 22 separated by an insulating washer 2|. As clearly illustrated in Figure l, the apex of the electrical contact arms is disposed adjacent the bight portion of the U-shaped bent over cover and the free end extends downwardly to substantially the mid-point of the interior of the box.

The contact arm 22 adjacent its free end, is provided with an electrical contact 24 which is adapted to be electrically contacted by the curved portion of the resilient electrical contact arm 20 when the same is moved downwardly upon being pressed into that position by the insertion of a letter or any other type of mail. To the underneath side of the contact arm 22 there is secured by means of rivets or the like a downwardly extending support 26 constructed of insulating material, to which there is pivotally mounted the contact breaking arm 30.

The arm 30 is normally maintained in electrical contacting relationship with the free end of the contact arm 20. by means of the coil spring 32.

A support 34 extends outwardly to substantially the midpoint of the interior of the box and at the end thereof is secured a depending gate 35, the free end of which normally abuts or contacts the contact arm 20 in its normal position.

The support 6 is provided with a substantially rectangular shaped aperture in the back portion thereof, and the edges are bent over as illustrated in Figure 1 to define flange supports 38 to which there is secured a non-conducting terminal support The non-conducting support is provided with terminals 42 and 40, the terminal 42 being connected by the electrical conductor 44 to the pivotally mounted arm 30 and terminal 40 to the resilient contact arm 22 through the medium of the electrical conductor 46.

As clearly shown in Figure 1, the terminals 42 and 40 are connected in series with an indithat the letter piece of mail or the like, as illustrated in Figure,

l, in dotted lines, the upper portion of the letter engages the free end of the swinging gate 36,.

7 while the other side thereof abuts the upper surface of the resilient contact arm 20. The con- .tact. arm 20 is moved downwardly into electrical contacting engagement with the stationary electrical contact 2 on the contact arm 22, thereby closing the electrical circuit during the period is passed between the arm 20 and the gate 36 and until the lower end of the letter pushes arm 33 into the position shown in dotted lines, where it is out of electrical contacting engagement with arm 29, breaking the electrical circuit, until the letter falls to the bottom of the box. 7

It will thus be seen in the event that the postman or the. depositor does not push the letter completely into the box the electrical circuit will only be energized during the period that the free end of the letter or the like is passing between the gate 38 and the'contact arm 20 for the reason that upon a. subsequent downward movement of the letter the free end of the letter engages the pivotally mounted contact arm :35 moving out of electrical contacting engage- 'ment with the arm 2i} consequently breaking the electrical circuit. Inasmuch as the pivotally mounted contact arm 3!) through its normal electrical contacting engagement with the free end of the contact arm 20 supplies it with electrical energy, the circuitcannot be completed as long as the free end of the letter engages the contact arm 36 and moves it downwardly out of electrical contacting engagement with the arm 25.

If the letter has passed beyond the pivotally.

mounted arm 30 the spring 32 forces the other end of the arm 38 upwardly into its normal electrical contacting. engagement with the arm 20 Which'has assumed its normal out of electrical contacting engagement with the contact 24 and is in position forthe reception of another piece of, mail. v

The present invention therefore, it will be seen, in the event that the postman or depositor does 'not completely force or push the mail into the bottom of thebox prevents the continuous energization of the electrical circuit and consequently the continuous sounding or energizing of the alarm.

Obviously, if it is desired to construct a mail receptacle employing such a device in as cheap a manner as possible, it is not necessary to provide the circuit closing device with the automatic circuit'opening arm 3d and on the other hand, such an automatic circuit opening arm prevents the continuous closing of the electrical circuit in the 'event that the postman fails to deposit'the mail in the bottom of the box. a

A circuit closing device of this character may be installed in any type of standard mail box,and

minor changes in construction may be made within the scope of the invention, and it is therefore intended, that only such limitations shall be imposed thereon as are indicated in the prior art or in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a mail box, a pair of spaced resilient electrical contacting arms disposed adjacent the upper inner edge of the box and extending to substantially the mid-point of the interior of the box. a pivotally mounted arm secured in said box and resilient means normally urging said arm upwardly in contacting relation with the free end of the upperelectrical contacting arm.

2. In a mail box, a pair of spaced resilient electrical contacting arms disposed adjacent the upper inner edge of the box and extending to substantially the mid-point of the interior of the box, a pivotally mounted arm secured in said box and resilient means normally urging said arm upwardly into contacting relation with the free end of the upper electrical contacting arm, and a pivotally mounted depending gate in said box having its free end contacting the upper electrical contacting arm. 7

3. In a mail receptacle, a pair of substantially V-shaped spaced resilient contact armssecured to the inner side of said box adjacent the upper edge thereof, the free ends of said contact arms depending downwardly in the interior of said box to substantially the mid-point thereof, and a pivotally mounted depending gate in said box, the free end thereof normally contacting the upper resilient contact arm adjacent its free end.

4. In a mail receptacle, a pair of substantially V-shaped spaced resilient contact arms secured to the inner side of said box adjacent the upper edge thereof, the free ends of said contact arms depending downwardly in the interior of said box to substantially the mid-point thereof, a pivotally mounted depending gate in said box, the free end thereof normally contacting the upper resilient contact arm adjacent its free end, an electrical contact disposed adjacent the free end of the lower contact arm for electrical contacting engagement with the inner side of the upper arm when the same is moved downwardly, a pivotally mounted arm in said box, andresilient means normally urging one end of said arm upwardly normally into contacting engagement with the free end of said upper resilient contacting arm.

5. In a mail receptacle, a pair of substantially V-shaped spaced resilient contact arms secured to the inner side of said box adjacent the upper edge thereof, the free ends of said contact arms depending downwardly'in the interior of said box to substantially the mid point thereof, a pivotally mounted depending gate in said box, the free end thereof normally contacting the upper resilient contact arm adjacent its free end, an electrical contact disposed adjacent the free end of the lower contact arm on the upper side thereof for electrical contacting engagement with the lower side of the upper arm when the same is moved said arm upwardly into electrical contacting engagement with the free end of the upper contact arm, the upper edge of said box being bent downwardly with the free end adjacent the upper resilient contacting arm.

' ALVIN C. TORSTENSON. 

